Furniture



N. REINGOLD Nov. 15, 1955 FURNITURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 23 1951G W Z 0 null! REINGOLD Nov. 15, 1955 FURNITURE 4 Sheets-Sheet, 2

Filed April 23 1951 l l v i Q; 1PMMIIHHHHHWflillmn N. REINGOLD Nov. 15,1955 FURNITURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 23 1951 HIM Nov. 15, 1955 N.REINGOLD 2,

FURNITURE Filed April 23, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

A/flflf/ FE/NGQLP WW4 @Qg fliTUE/VEX United States Patent FURNITURE NoahReingold, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Albert Lavenburg, Great Neck, N.Y.

Application April 23, 1951, Serial No. 222,509

8 Claims. (Cl. 311-95) This invention relates to furniture, and moreparticularly to folding tables.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved article offurniture such as indicated above, which provides a table which willstand on its four legs either in its open position of use or in itsclosed for folded condition for storage.

Another object is to provide a table having a movable table top whichcan be easily and quickly moved when the table is in open position froman upper to a lower position, or vise versa, or to a vertical positionfrom horizontal position between the legs of the table when the table isin folded condition.

Another object is to provide a table with parts thereof so related andassociated with each other as to form a secure, durable, eflicienttable, when set up for use, with legs that are strong and sturdy, whichwill not collapse or wobble, and to form a compact structure whencollapsed or folded up so that a minimum amount of space will beoccupied thereby.

A further object is to provide a table which may be easily and quicklyset up in open position for use from folded position, and vise versa, orfrom upper to lower position, or vise versa:

Still another object is to provide a spring hook or latch which willautomatically hold the table top to the rear frame of the table eitherwhen the table is in open upper and lower position, or in its collapsedor folded position.

Yet another object is to provide a swinging rest or platform on thefront frame or rail of the table in order to aid in holding the tabletop when in its upper open position, and for swinging the rest orplatform out ofthe way when the table top is to be moved to the lowerposition or from lower to upper position, or to closed or collapsedposition of the table.

A still further object is to provide tethering anchorage and support ofthe table-top, and more specifically, to provide a pair of swinging armson a rod connected at what is here termed the rear side of the table topto enable the table top to swing to and from upper and lower position,or to closed position.

Other objects of the invention will appear to those skilled in the artto which it appertains as the description proceeds, both by directrecitation thereof and by implication from the context.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals ofreference indicate similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view of a table shown in openposition, and with table top in uppermost position;

Fig. 2 is a top plan of the table, partly broken away;

Fig; 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the table topin uppermost position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the table top in lowered orsecond position, illustrating manner of manipulating the top either toits lower position or to raise it from lower to uppermost position;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the same plane as Fig. 3, butshowing the table in folded or collapsed position; and

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of table in folded position.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in saiddrawings, the reference numeral 10 designates a movable table-top, hereshown as rectangular or square. This table-top 10 is supported throughagency'of structure hereinafter described, by four legs 11 located atthe four corners thereof. Considering the legs as arranged in pairs, ofwhich one pair is in a plane parallel to the plane of another pair atthe opposite end of the table, a rigid lintel 12 is provided betweenupper portions of the legs of each pair, and foldable lintels 13 areprovided between corresponding legs of the two pair. For convenience inorientation and designation of parts, the foldable lintels will bearbitrarily designated as at the sides of the table, and the rigidlintels will be referred to as at the ends of the table or morespecifically as at the front and rear ends thereof. For furtherconvenience in description, the table will be considered as standing onits four legs which may therefore be designated as located verticallyand in position of use, the table-top will be recognized as positionedhorizontally.

Each rigid lintel has an upper, horizontally disposed stringer 14 and alower stringer 15 therebelow in spaced parallel relation thereto, eachsaid stringer extending from leg to leg of the pair of legs at the endsof the table. The space between the said upper and lower stringers mayhave a panel 16 of wood or other material closing the lintel space fromleg to leg as shown, or may have balusters or be otherwise partiallyfilled or left entirely open as found most desirable.

Each foldable lintel 13 is made up of three essential parts, namely, arigid hinge-mounting spacer or section 17 and two gate or foldablesections 18. The spacer or section 17 is fixed to a leg of the pair oflegs at one end of the table, and preferably the pair arbitrarilydesignated are at the rear of the table, said spacers projectingperpendicular to the plane of said pair and toward the pair of legs atthe front of the table. One gate section of each foldable lintel ishinged vertically at its front end to one leg of the pair of legs at thefront of the table in such manner that it may be swung inwardly of thetable and into juxtaposition to the 'inner face of the end lintel. Theother or intermediate gate section 18 of the foldable lintel is hingedat its forward end to the rear end of the first-mentioned or front gatesection, and is hinged at its rear end to the forwardly directed end ofthe spacer or fixed section 17. This intermediate section of the lintelis properly hinged so as to likewise swing inwardly of the table andwhen swung to its limit will arrive at juxtaposition to the inwardlyswung front gate section and parallel to the rigid lintels but spacedfrom the rear rigid lintel a distance equal to the length of the spacer17.

Each gate section is shown as a frame composed of upper and lowerstringers 19 and 20 respectively and the frame completed as a rectangleby risers 21 connecting ends of the said stringers. The space betweenthe said upper and lower stringers of each gate section may have a panel22 of wood or other material closing the framed space from riser toriser, or may have balusters or be otherwise partially filled or leftentirely open as found most desirable. Furthermore, while spacer 17 hasbeen shown as a solid block of wood, it likewise may be otherwiseconstructed to be wholly or partially open. The vertical dimension ofthe foldable lintel is preferably the same as that of the rigid lintel,so that all of the upper stringers are at a common elevation and all ofthe lower stringers are at a common elevation. Piano Patented Nov. 15,1955 3 hinges 23 are preferred and are shown at both ends of the gatesections.

In the open condition or position of use of the table, the gate sectionsof each foldablelintel are aligned in a common plane with each other andwith the fixed end section or spacer. Releasable locking means may beprovided to retain the several sections of the foldable lintel in theiraligned status, one such means appearing more especially in Figs. 2 and6. The illustrated embodiment of locking means comprises a rigid arm 24pivoted at 25 to the outer face of one gate section 18 next the endthereof hinged to the other gate section, said arm having adequatelength to enable it to extend across the line of. hin'ging of saidsections and have a considerable overlap on both. While one end of thearm itshinged to one gate section, its other end can be swung to overlieapart of the other gate section which has a stud 26 or other detent withwhich the arm will make snap engagement until it is positively andforcefully disengaged therefrom for swinging back to a position ofjuxtaposition to only the one section on which it is pivoted so as toenable the gate sections to then be swunginwardly of the table forcollapsing purposes.

Table top 10 is constructed and mounted in such manner that it may belocated, at will, in any one of several locations, one of which is atsubstantially the level of the upper stringers, another of which is atsubstantially the level of the lower stringers, and a third one of whichis. with said table top dropped between the parallel pairs of legs incollapsed condition of the table. For accomplishment of the locationwhere desired of the table-top the. dimensions thereof are prearrangedto enable the table-top to fit nicely within the oblong framing providedby the several stringers, so that in open condition of the table theseveral edges of the table-top will be in juxtaposition each to astringer.

The table-top is retained assembled with the leg and lintel portion ofthe table by means of tethering arms 27 pivoted thereto, as at 28, atthe two opposite sides of said top next one end thereof, namely, nextwhat I have here termed the rear end of the table. The other ends ofsaid tethering arms 27 are carried by a cross-rod 29 common to botharmsand to which said arms are preferably secured, as by welding, so botharms will swing equal amounts and will do so simultaneously. Said rodhas its ends rotatably mounted in the spacer 1'7, and preferably nearthe rear edge thereof and midway of the height thereof. Thus the rod andarms support the tabletop. from beneath when said table-top is at itsuppermost horizontal position, and support the table top from above whensaid table-top is at its lowermost horizontal position. B'y lifting thefront end of the table-top upwardly outof the framingprovided by thelintels, the rear end can be drawn forward and the tethering arms swungthrough an arc of 180 to re-locate the table-top at its other level, or,as shown in Figs. and 6, the front end of the table-top can be droppeddown between the lintels and legs through an arc of 90 to standvertically parallel to the legs for table-collapsing purposes.

A spring-loaded latch 30 is shown pivoted at 31 on a bracket 32 at theunder face of the table-top next the rear end thereof, said latch beingengageable with a downwardly directed lip 33 on the under face of theupper stringer 14 of the rear rigid lintel 12, both when the table-topis in its horizontal upper position and when the table-top is in itsvertical position. In the first instance, the inadvertent lifting of thetable-top is prevented, and in the second instance the table-top isretain'ed hooked back toward the rear pair of legs in collapsedcondition of the table or during the interval of collapsing' the frontlegs toward the rear ones or vice versa; This arrangement has theadditional advantage of holding the table-top, when in verticalposition, at a higherelevati'on than if allowed to drop and be suspendedby the tetheringmeans, the shown retention thus making it easier toreach the lower edge of the vertically positioned top for swinging thetop up again when the table is to be opened up for use.

Means are provided for supporting the front end of thc table-top ineither its upper or its lower position. The means provided for supportat the upper position of the tabletop is shown as a Z-shaped hanger 34which extends crosswise of the table along the top of lintel 12 thereat.The top flange of this hanger is constituted as one leaf of a pianohinge the other leaf 35 of which is secured on the top of the rigidlintel at that end of the table, with the hinge-pin edge of the hinge atthe outside edge of the table. In its table-top supporting position, thehanger is positioned with its top flange overlying the hinge leaf 35 onthe lintel, and with the web part of the hanger juxtaposed to the insideface of the upper stringer, and the lower flange projecting inwardly ofthe table at about the level of the under face of the top stringer so asto underlie the front margin of the table-top. When desired to lower thetable top, its front end is first lifted, as indicated in Fig. 4,thereby permitting the Z-shaped hanger to be swung up and forward out ofthe way of the tabletop. The rear end of. the table-top can then beswung to locate it at the lower level, after which the forward end canbe lowered to supporting engagement upon a pair of inwardly protrudingcleats 36 secured to the under face of the lower stringer. When thetable is thus set up, it constitutes, in a sense, a sort of play yardwith fencing therearound.

Furthermore, the tabletop may be fabricated for instance with aply-board body under girded by supporting peripheral framing beams 38and intermediate beams 39.

I claim:

1. A table having two front and two rear legs; front, rear and foldableside lintels connected to said legs; and a table-top movably supportedin horizontal position between and within said lintels when the table isin open position, the peripheral edges of said table-top beingsubstantially in engagement with said front, rear and side lintelsretaining said lintels unfolded, and said tabletop being hinged next toand at the inward side of said rear le s and lintel and thereby adaptedto be swung downward within the table from its position of retention ofsaid side lintels for enabling said side lintels to be folded inwardly.

2. A table having a front pair and a rear pair of legs; front, rear andfoldable side lintels connected to said legs; a table-top substantiallyextending to all of said lintels in open position of the table, andmeans for changeably supporting said table-top in one of a plurality ofhorizontal positions between and within said lintels when the table isin open position, said means having hinge connection with said table-topand having hinge connection adjacent to the rear lintel substantiallymidway between two extreme positions of said plurality of l1orizontalpositions of support of said table top.

3. A table having two front and two rear legs; front, rear and foldableside lintels connected to said legs; a table-top;. and means fortethering the table-top in a horizontal position between and within saidlintels in open position of the table'and supporting the table-topvertically between said front and rear legs in collapsed position of thetable with the normally bottom face of the table top adjacent to therear legs; said foldable side lintels being foldable between thevertical table-top and the front legs with the normally top face of thetable-top toward the folded-in side lintels and front legs forprotection of the normally top face of said table-top, thereby in the'collapsed'position-of said table.

4. A table having two front and two rear legs; front, rear and foldableside lintels connected to said legs; a tabletop m'ovablysupported inhorizontal position betweenand'within said lintels when the table is inopen position-and adapted tobe supported vertically in collapsedposition of the table with the normally bottom face of the table-topadjacent to the rear legs; and swingable tethering means within thelintels pivoted to and for supporting the table-top both in itshorizontal position and in its substantially vertical position; and saidfoldable side lintels being foldable inwardly between said verticaltable-top and the front lintel with the normally top face of thetable-top toward and protected by the folded-in side lintels and frontlegs and with the normally bottom face of the table located toward andprotected by juxtaposition of the rear legs and lintel next thereto inthe collapsed position of said table.

5. A table having two front and two rear legs; front, rear and foldableside lintels connected to said legs; a table-top; tethering means nextto the rear lintel and a hinged Z-shaped hanger next to the front lintelswingable into position at the inside of said front lintel, saidtethering means and hanger supporting said table-top in horizontalposition between and within said lintels when the table is in openposition, said table-top being swingable on said tethering means and thetethering means being swingable for moving the table-top from itshorizontal position to a substantially vertical position for collapsingthe table; said foldable lintels each having three hinged connectionsfor folding the side lintels between said vertical table-top and thefront lintel in the folded position of said table.

6. A table having two front and two rear legs; front, rear and foldableside lintels connected to said legs; and a table-top having meansmovably supporting the same next its rear edge in a first horizontalposition adjacent to the tops of said legs and in a second horizontalposition below said first horizontal position within said lintels whenthe table is in open position for use, a hinged hanger for supportingthe front edge of the table-top in said horizontal position, said hangerbeing movable for shifting the tabletop to its second horizontalposition, and

other means for supporting said front edge top in said second horizontalposition. table- 7. A table having a front pair of legs and a r air oflegs and a table-top swingable to vertical pogi between said legs, meanshinging the table-top to a pair of legs, and a hinged hanger on theother pair of legs for supporting the table-top thereby in horizontalposition between the legs.

8. A table having a front pair of legs and a rear pair of legs and atable-top swingable to vertical position between said legs, meanshinging the table-top to one pair of legs, and a Z-shaped hanger on theother pair of legs for supporting the table top thereby in horizontalposition between the legs.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS153,438 Jones July 28, 1874 156,144 Draper Oct. 20, 1874 490,320 SmythJan. 24, 1893 782,838 Foque Feb. 21, 1905 900,552 Kade Oct. 6, 1908921,468 Scheibner May 11, 1909 1,528,156 Lewis Mar. 3, 1925 1,588,759Lewis June 15, 1926 1,599,351 Teetsel Sept. 7, 1926 2,161,657 HansburgJune 6, 1939 2,198,661 Dubilier Apr. 30, 1940 2,258,689 Roselyn Oct. 14,1941 2,383,831 Walker Aug. 28, 1945 2,485,156 Krenzke Oct. 18, 19492,508,405 Lazard May 23, 1950 2,551,999 Ditty May 8, 1951 FOREIGNPATENTS 19,504 Great Britain 1894

